The Scars Left Behind

This is the Sequel to the Harlequin and the Bat and The Harley and The Ivy.

Important notes: I do not own Batman or any portion of the franchise. I give all credit to DC Comics and respective owners. Except the characters I wrote in my profile.

Chapter 9

*March Seventh*

(Jim Gordon's POV)

Eight forty seven PM, Jim Gordon was working late at his desk 'I hope Barbara's okay, this is the…how many late nights have I pulled? *sigh* I hope she's okay. I know that she's gotten help with that Grayson lad; I see that they've grown fond of each other…I hope he's treating her right.' He thought kindly about his daughter and thought tentatively about Dick; even though he did respect him as Bruce Wayne's adoptive son he did see him as someone who was reckless.

"Commissioner! We've gotta problem!" Harvey Bullock stormed in slamming the door.

"What is it Bullock?" Gordon rubbed his eyes wondering what he was on about.

"There-there's a pile of dead bodies on our doorstep!" He explained

"What?!" Gordon asked in disbelief "You're not serious?!"

"Why would I joke about this? But that's not the worst part!" Bullock sounded sick to his stomach.

"What's the worst part?" Gordon asked as he followed his colleague

"They're um…they've got…*suppressed gulp*oh God!" Bullock held back his vomit, even after over twenty years on the police force and seeing several gruesome things, this sight was horrible.

"They've got what? *Gasp*!" Gordon asked then were reviled by the sight

"They've got no faces!" Bullock unveiled the sight to Jim Gordon

"What sort of monster…" Jim wondered holding back his revulsion "You know what, I don't care! Let's just catch this creep and send him to Arkham!"

"Yes Sir!" the officers said to command

"Erm Commissioner…these were also present on the bodies." a rookie cop handed the pieces of evidence to Jim.

"What is it?" Jim examined the evidence: several single strands of hair in separate bags "Get these down to the crime lab immediately!" Jim spoke with authority

"Yes Sir!" the rookie spoke to attention being careful with the evidence.

Jim looked at the bodies one last time before covering them up again. "Get these bodies to the morgue and contact any next of kin, they deserve that much."

"Yes. Okay careful with these bodies lads, you heard the Commissioner." An aged cop spoke

"What's the point, they're dead!" an officer spoke in an almost laughing matter "Not like they've got feelings like that crazy clown girl or Joker. Or what about that time with the girl yelling out: "I was making a deposit!" I mean how crazy was she? She was guilty as sin!"

Jim overheard the cop about Harley and felt a twinge of anger; this cop pushed all the wrong buttons with everyone, even Bullock who got on everyone's nerves wasn't as bad as this guy. Jim knew Harleen had changed her ways and remembered what had happened with the memory alteration a few months back and this guy was the one who sent Harleen to Arkham when she opened Flora Plush with Ivy. "Watch your mouth Karlson or you'll be on Desk Duty for the next month. Now give the dead some respect!" Jim ordered

"Yes sir…" Karlson begrudgingly spoke pulling each body into a bag

"Something to call Batman about?" Bullock asked

"Definitely; maybe he'll help shed some light on the subject." Gordon pondered as he went towards the Bat-Signal.

*forty five minutes later*

"He's usually here. What's keepin' him?" Bullock asked freezing his coat off

"He'll be here, he's probably engaged with fighting a drug lord or something." Gordon explained gazing at the signal in the sky.

(Bruce's POV)

*around the same time*

Bruce and Harley were at another gala with Veronica Vreeland and her friends, had been since seven. "Oh hello, Miss Harley how are things?" Veronica spoke politely to her.

Harley had on a blue dress with floral design she had made herself, she also wore the diamond and gold necklace Bruce bought for her again (she made a promise to wear it at all special occasions) "Ah you know, going well, how about yourself? Your dad doing okay?" Harley spoke politely trying to not aggravate her.

"Oh he's doing well, thank you." Veronica smiled then she noticed Harley's necklace "Didn't you wear that necklace at Martha Bland's Gala? Have you no others?" she pushed one of Harley's buttons and it was a big one!

"Of course I have." Harley quickly mentioned, but losing a small amount her cool, but composed herself when she touched it "But Bruce gave me this when we first became a couple, I wouldn't replace it like it was going out of fashion. It means too much to me."

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. So how's the engagement to Bruce going?" Veronica asked sipping champagne.

"Very well, thanks." Harley answered politely. She turned and noticed Bruce waving at her "Excuse me, my fiancé's calling me."

(Bruce's POV)

*the same time*

Bruce was talking to some of his Board members discussing that another company is making high-end military grade armour that could save a multitude of lives. "I believe if we invest in this company Wayne Enterprises could possibly double maybe triple its income. What do you think Bruce?" one of the members asked.

Bruce remembered what Bill said years ago: about the industrial espionage and his Meta-human Weave armour, before he was shipped off to Arkham. This was the proof his board members had stolen Bill's work and made billions from it, but he couldn't do anything. "Well it sounds like a risk. I mean are these suits of armour reliable?" Bruce maintained his ignorance around them trying not to become Batman.

"Aren't all investments risks Bruce? Besides the armour has had critical acclaim, soldiers are safe from armour piercing rounds, soldiers are coming home and the company is turning a profit." an investor spoke highly of the armour

"That may be true, but what about the repairs? I imagine a Super-Soldier suit would need repairs after extensive use or prolonged exposure; wouldn't it?" Bruce asked them, but keeping in mind on how meticulous Bill was in the maintenance of the suits he created for the Bat-Family

A slightly drunk board member spoke towards Bruce "Bruce, y-you worry t-to much…the suits work…people are safe…a-and it-it's making a pofrit…profit."

"Charles you need to take it easy, you don't want to say anything you may regret." Bruce said comforting his board member, he noticed the Bat-Signal in the sky and excused himself and signalled Harley.

The two met at the edge of the party, by the dining area. Harley sighed "That Veronica is something else. What did you ever see in her?" asking her fiancé

"Different reasons, but she has nothing on you Harley." Bruce smiled as Harley spun herself into his arms.

"Flatterer; so, I'm guessing we're on the clock?" Harley smiled then turned to seriousness

"Unfortunately yes." Bruce answered with a twinge of relief. "The board member's Bill talked about…"

"The ones who sold his prototype armour to rival companies?" Harley asked as they exited towards the door

"The same, they've made a mint with the blueprints. But I doubt they've managed to fix the problem." Bruce spoke as they reached the door but were stopped by Veronica.

"Bruce, Harley! Where are you going? The party just started!" Veronica called out

"Sorry Veronica, but we've…" Harley tried to think of a plausible excuse

"We've got some very important business meetings in the morning and they're going to take at least thirteen hours to complete. It was nice catching up with you." Bruce carried on the charade and shook Veronica's hand like a gentleman

"Oh…well, next time plan ahead before making such plans." Veronica spoke with disappointment.

"Okay, well goodnight." Harley waved goodbye to the party and its hostess. As they left in their car, Haley smiled looking at Bruce as he was driving "That was some story there Bruce: Important business meetings in the morning, thirteen hours long. Ha, I can't believe you can pull a story like that out of the air."

"Who said it was a story?" Bruce said with a monotone grin.

Harley lost her smile and frowned "Thirteen hours; really? Bruce, that's harsh…"

"That's the reality of it." Bruce explained as they reached the armour drop off and suited up.

"Well then, I'll have to give you something to enjoy afterwards." Harley winked as she donned her Perfected Bat-Shard armour

Bruce smiled as he then donned his cowl turning him into Batman, "I'll be waiting for it." The duo landed behind Bullock and Gordon and with his darkened voice Batman spoke "What is it Commissioner?"

Gordon and Bullock turned and breathed heavy after hearing his voice. "Take pity on an old man's heart won't you Batman? We've got a serious case; these just arrived from the morgue." Gordon spoke handing a file to the caped crusaders.

"I gotta warn ya: these made my stomach turn." Bullock forewarned them

As Batman opened the file he saw the photos and was slightly taken back by them, Bat-Shard placed her hand over her mouth and groaned trying to hold back. "Any idea, who could've done this Batman?" Gordon asked

"Someone who's: sick in the head?" Bat-Shard composed herself again answering the commissioner.

Batman pondered then folded the file away before giving his answer "Whoever did this was methodical, calm, experienced."

"Experienced? We've never had a case where someone slice's off another person's face before." Bullock answered

"Experienced can mean a lot more than being a killer Bullock. Was there anything else?" Batman answered again.

"Several strands of hair, we're running it through CODIS, hopefully we'll get a match. I've procured a sample for you to run." Jim answered handing a single bag to Batman.

"That makes the job a bit easier, I guess." Bat-Shard spoke without insult, Bullock nodded in agreement.

"We'll get to work. Goodnight Jim, Bullock." Batman spoke then making a disappearing act.

Before Bat-Shard left Gordon called out to her, "Bat-Shard wait." As she stopped with Bain place; Gordon turned to Bullock "Hey Harvey, give me a minute."

Looking puzzled but done what he's asked "Sure thing Comish." He was heard going down the stairs.

"Harley, I just need to know something." Gordon used Bat-Shard's real identity knowing about Bat-Shard being Harley Quinzel because of Barbara telling him. He's been supportive of the secret and not told anyone since.

"What is it?" Bat-Shard asked

With a slow inhale and exhale Gordon asked "How's Barbara, has Dick gotten her into trouble? And how've you been since I last saw you?"

"A social question Jim? That's not like you at all." Batman smiled

Jim looked at his feet and shook his head "Just…*sigh* just humour me will you?"

"Commissioner: Barbara's fine, she and Dick have been fine for a good while. No, Dick hasn't gotten her into trouble. As for me…beside that photo two minutes ago I've never been better." Bat-Shard smiled

Jim gave a relieved sigh and spoke "Thank you Harley; that's put my mind to rest for this part. But still I worry."

"You're a good man Commissioner and a great father…I just wish my step-father was the same." Shard spoke then whispered to herself.

"I'm sorry?" Jim asked

"Err, nothing!" Bat-Shard spoke in haste before leaving "Gotta bolt." She slipped into her Brooklyn accent.

Jim shook his head and thought to himself 'She really has changed. But I guess that some things are difficult to break from. I should really call Barbara and talk to her like her father and not a cop.'

*downstairs in the crime lab*

"Ah Detective Bullock, we got a hit on the sample." The medical examiner spoke to his colleague

"Good, this'll make things easier for us." Bullock said handing a sugar coated doughnut to the medical examiner and had the chocolate sprinkled on for himself. "So…" he began to speak while eating "Who's the guy, Sam?"

"Hmm…just loading now." Sam answered enjoying his doughnut as Commissioner Gordon entered the room.

"Eating on the job again Harvey?" Gordon asked with a hint of a joke.

"You're just in time Comish, we're about to find out who's this Identity-Thief creep." Bullock answered

"Results in just now." Sam spoke wiping the frost from his lips then saw the results "My God!" he was stunned

"No…" Gordon spoke being taken back by the results.

"You gotta be kiddin' me!" Bullock spoke in disbelief as he saw the picture

(Harley's POV)

Harley hugged Bruce on the settee thinking about the case and what the photos shown "Who could do something like that? I mean killing people is one thing; but killing and stealing their faces…I couldn't imagine anyone doing that…well maybe Joker." She spoke in fear of that person, who's long since been dead.

"I bet Joker was insane enough to take his own face off…given the chance." Bruce said holding Harley in a protective grip. "But, he's gone and we're here in the: here and now." He said smiling

"You just want that special gift I promised you aren't ya?" Harley spoke in her accent again giving a seductive smile.

"Am I that obvious?" Bruce questioned

"Nope…but I love that about you." Harley said kissing Bruce's cheek and she heard the Bat-Computer ping.

"Sounds like the results are in." Bruce spoke

"Yeah…a hundred percent chance of snuggles and love bites." Harley smiled still hugging him.

A loud crash came behind them and saw Alfred in shock; Bruce turned around "Alfred, what's wrong?"

"Sir…the result…" Alfred pointed to the screen.

Bruce observed the result and didn't speak.

"No…that's not true…IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" Harley called out.

To be continued

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